PC2700 DDR333 RAM underclocking

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BiggusDoggus

336 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Topic # 13367 6-May-2007 21:51

Hi all

I have 2 x 512MB sticks of PC2700 DDR333 RAM.

However, according to Sandra, it is only running @ 166 (report below). Yes, I have upgraded the BIOS to 1007.

Any ideas, please? Thanks.

SiSoftware Sandra

Mainboard
Manufacturer : ASUSTeK Computer INC.
MP Support : No
Model : P4S533MX
Version : REV 1.xx
Serial Number : xxxxxxxxxxx
System BIOS : 12/23/2003-SiS651/SIS962/IT8705F-P4S533MX

System Memory Controller
Location : Mainboard
Error Correction Capability : None
Number of Memory Slots : 2
Maximum Installable Memory : 1GB
Bank 1 - DIMM 1 : DIMM Synchronous DRAM 512MB/64
Bank 2 - DIMM 2 : DIMM Synchronous DRAM 512MB/64

Chipset 1
Model : ASUSTeK Computer Inc SiS651 CPU to PCI Bridge
Bus(es) : AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 133MHz (532MHz data rate)
Maximum FSB Speed / Max Memory Speed : 4x 133MHz / 2x 166MHz
Width : 64-bit
IO Queue Depth : 8 request(s)
Priority Master Queue Depth : 7 request(s)

Chipset 1 Hub Interface
Type : MUTOL
Width : 16-bit
Full Duplex : No
Multiplier : 2/1x

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 512MB DDR-SDRAM 2.5-3-3-7 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR2
Bank 1 : 512MB DDR-SDRAM 2.5-3-3-7 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR2
Channels : 1
Width : 64-bit
Memory Controller in Processor : No
Refresh Rate : 7.80µs
Power Save Mode : No
Fixed Hole Present : No

APIC 1
Version : 8.00
Multiplier : 1/2x
Maximum Interrupts : 24
IRQ Handler Engaged : Yes
Enhanced Support : Yes

Memory Module 1
Manufacturer : Hyundai Electronics
Model : HYMD264 646D8J-J
Serial Number : FFFF0104
Type : 512MB DDR-SDRAM
Technology : 16x(32Mx8)
Speed : PC2700U DDR-166
Standard Timings : 2.5-3-3-7 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS)
Date of Manufacture : Saturday, April 23, 2005
Memory DC Line : 2.5V
Set Timing @ 167MHz : 2.5-3-3-7 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS)
Set Timing @ 133MHz : 2.0-2-2-6 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS)

Memory Module 2
Type : 512MB DDR-SDRAM
Technology : 16x(32Mx8)
Speed : PC2700U DDR-166
Standard Timings : 2.5-3-3-7 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS)
Date of Manufacture : Saturday, December 25, 1999
Memory DC Line : 2.5V
Set Timing @ 167MHz : 2.5-3-3-7 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS)
Set Timing @ 133MHz : 2.0-2-2-6 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS)

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

Bung

2573 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 357

Reply # 69733 6-May-2007 22:40

Think about the name DDR Double Data Rate 166x2=333 because the 166 is probably 166.6.

BiggusDoggus

336 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 69734 6-May-2007 22:46

So you're saying that Sandra is reporting it as 166, but since it is double rated it is actually 333?

It's possible, but another issue is that games such as Medieval 2 are very choppy, even on the lowest settings. Which really shouldn't be happening with a 256MB Radeon 9600 Pro card, 2.8 P4 CPU and 1GB of DDR333 RAM, should it? That's what is making me think my RAM is being underclocked somehow.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

weblordpepe

460 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

Reply # 69752 7-May-2007 00:10

DDR333 runs at 133mhz if I recall correctly.

DDR's big thing is doing stuff twice per clock cycle. To be honest...faster RAM has never made much of an impact with games at all. At least I never saw a benchmark where it was worth it.
Memory performance goes through the roof sure but it doesn't reflect much in games.

Bung

2573 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 357

Reply # 69768 7-May-2007 08:05

Strangely enough DDR266 runs at 133MHz.

BiggusDoggus

336 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 69774 7-May-2007 09:09

weblordpepe: DDR333 runs at 133mhz if I recall correctly.

DDR's big thing is doing stuff twice per clock cycle. To be honest...faster RAM has never made much of an impact with games at all. At least I never saw a benchmark where it was worth it.
Memory performance goes through the roof sure but it doesn't reflect much in games.

Unless I'm reading the Sandra report incorrectly, though, it is saying my DDR333 is actuaslly being registered as DDR166. Sorry, but I'm not 100% clear on the terminology.

Another interesting point is that in the video options of Medieval 2, if I select "Auto detect" (which normally means it has a squiz at what I have on board and adjusts the settings accordingly) it makes all the settings either medium or high. Which slows the game down to a crippled crawl. So the game *thinks* I've got a pretty good setup, but in reality, at present, I don't.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

Bung

2573 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 357

Reply # 69784 7-May-2007 10:21

If there was such a thing as DDR166 Sandra wouldn't also refer to it as PC2700. Accept that DDR333 memory operates on a clock speed of 166MHz. Usually game problems are video card or poor game software programming related.